The Pilots

Pilots of No. 245 Squadron at RAF Westhampnett, Sussex

RB396 will be a living memorial to the brave crews who operated and maintained the Hawker Typhoon during it’s RAF service. Through her, we will ensure that the stories of the Typhoon’s crew are preserved and that they are remembered. The pilot profiles in this area are of the men and women who flew the Typhoon and the unique perspective they bring. A number of the pilot’s aircraft have been recovered and will help to make RB396’s return to the skies possible.

Please Note

All crash sites such as these are protected by law in the UK and require a strict code of conduct, special permissions and licences before anything can be removed. All recoveries by the team are carried out in full compliance with UK law to preserve what is left before it is lost forever.

On Sunday 16th September 2018, our Events Manager, Dave Hands, had the pleasure of meeting with Wing Commander Tim Elkington at his home. Together, they chatted about Tim’s long RAF career (Tim joined in 1939 and retired in 1975) which saw him fly an incredible range of aircraft, including Hurricanes in The Battle of Britain, Russia …

F/O Henry “Harry” Hector MacKenzie was born on 17th April 1920, at Anyox, British Columbia, Canada. On the 13th August 1941, at the age of 21, he enlisted in the RCAF (Vancouver). After gaining his wings on the 18th August 1942 he was posted to England, just 12 months after enlisting. After conversion courses in …

On the 27th March 1945 F/O Robert Bellis (RCAF) was attached to 56 Operational Training Unit (OTU) flying out of RAF Milfield in Northumberland. Whilst on a training flight in the Muirkirk area, Scotland, the weather closed in, reducing the visibility considerably. Shortly afterwards whilst passing through the valley that Stony Hill flanked Hawker Typhoon …

On the 18th March 1944 RCAF squadrons 439 and 440 were moving from RAF Ayr to RAF Hurn (Bournemouth) via RAF Woodvale in Lancashire. The 2 squadrons consisted of a mixture of Hawker Hurricanes and Hawker Typhoons in preparation for the D-Day landings. During the first leg of the flight to RAF Woodvale P/O Mitchell …

On the 7th January 1944 174 ‘Mauritius’ Squadron were involved in operations over France. While attacking a site near Behen two aircraft, JP600 and JR373, collided whilst pulling out from a steep dive. Flight Sergeant R.V Smith managed to bale out of his stricken Typhoon, becoming PoW however, Flying Officer John Frederick Cobbett was unable …